PREVALENCE AND INDIVIDUAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DYSMENORRHEA AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AT FORT PORTAL COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, WESTERN UGANDA – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Diplock  Ignatius; Namaasa Aeron  Mukirya

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i3.1569

Authors

Diplock Ignatius Fortportal College of Health Sciences P.O. Box 724, Fortportal, Uganda
Namaasa Aeron Mukirya Faculty of Heath Sciences, Victoria University, Kampala P.O. Box 30866, Kampala.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v6i3.1569

Keywords:

Dysmenorrhea, prevalence, Medical Student, associated factors

Abstract

Introduction

Dysmenorrhea is a common complaint among women of reproductive age and it affects academic performance among students. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and individual factors associated with dysmenorrhea among female medical students at Fort Portal College of Health Sciences, western Uganda.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 280 participants from the five training programs offered at the college. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, prevalence, and individual factors associated with dysmenorrhea. Data was analyzed in SPSS v.21, using mean, frequencies, percentages, chi-square, and logistic regression. Ethical and administrative approvals were sought for the College Research and Scientific Committee and administration, respectively and participants provided written informed consent.

Results

Data was collected from 280 participants with a mean age of 23.26 years (S=3.58). The prevalence of dysmenorrhea among participants was 94.26%; and participants’ age (aOR=2.74; 95% CI: 0.36 – 20.86; p-value = 0.331), duration of menstrual flow (aOR=2.36; 95% CI: 0.66 – 8.39; p-value = 0.184), regular physical exercises (aOR=1.61; 95% CI: 0.85 – 3.05; p-value = 0.142), and daily water consumption (aOR=3.45; 95% CI: 1.15 – 10.37; p-value = 0.068), were not associated with dysmenorrhea.

Conclusion

The prevalence of dysmenorrhea among female medical students is high and is not associated with individual factors like; age, duration of menstrual flow, physical exercises, or daily water consumption.

Recommendation

Additional studies are needed to examine the aetiology of dysmenorrhea and inform the development of effective prevention and control strategies.

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